In January, alumnus and Film/Video faculty Rajee Samarasinghe (Film/Video MFA 16) won the 2026 Truer Than Fiction Independent Spirit Award for his debut film Your Touch Makes Others Invisible, which he described as “a film about enforced disappearances and state violence in my home country of Sri Lanka.”
A combination of documentary and fiction, the film examines the disappearances carried out by the Sri Lankan military during the country’s 26-year civil war and how families are still searching for their loved ones 15 years after the war ended.
In his acceptance speech, Samarasinghe said, “I want to dedicate this award to the women who shared their testimonies in the film and demonstrated such courage. The film wouldn’t exist without them, and I’m deeply grateful.”
He continued, “I’m also grateful to be part of a community that believes in the capacity of cinema to witness and to question power. We live in a moment when abuses of power are so commonplace, and it’s essential to keep fighting that power and to stand with those who are most vulnerable.”
Film Independent is a nonprofit organization that champions creative independence and diversity in storytelling. Its Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to a first-time director of a nonfiction feature who has not received significant recognition. The award is in its 31st year and includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
The film was produced by fellow CalArtians Maggie Corona-Goldstein (Theater MFA 15), Solomon Turner (Film/Video MFA 15), DaManuel Richardson (Film/Video MFA 16) through their production company Hello Benjamin Films.
The film was field-produced by Yanyu Dong (Film/Video MFA 17) with sound by Rasika Ruwanpathirana (Film/Video MFA).
Samarasinghe was also named a Guggenheim fellow in 2025.
